Ministry
For 15 years, Russ and Heidi, along with their children, Joel, Joshua, Joyanne and Jocelyn planted seeds and bore fruit at San Esteban Anglican Church, in the community of Villa Alemana, Chile. After spending time in Pasadena, California for educational ministry and training, they have returned to Chile where they have been called to pastor a new congregation in Calera de Tango. Heidi will continue teaching at Santiago Christian Academy and will also assist Russ in ministry to married couples and in women’s outreach in the new church.

Call
Russ and Heidi were both raised in the Church and gave their lives to Christ at a very young age. Even as a child, Russ had an interest in missions, and Heidi heard her calling during her college years after she "gave Jesus the lordship of (her) future". Heidi's mother wasn't surprised to hear that she wanted to be a missionary, however. Before Heidi was even born, her mother had dedicated her in service to the Lord, much like Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1:27! Heidi has been a SAMS missionary for over 20 years now, and she met Russ only a few years after she began missionary work when she was training SAMS missionaries (Russ was a SAMS candidate at the time). They married and six months later left for Chile. They've now been working there for over 15 years!

Prayer Challenges
Pray that they will be able to finish well with the work they have been doing in St. Luke the Evangelist Church in La Florida; and that they will continue to build positive relationships with the people at John the Baptist Church in Calera de Tango. Pray also for their upcoming home ministry assignment: that they can encourage the people in the churches with love for God and His mission; and that the people will also respond generously as the Smiths raise their support.